Punch for forming holes in cans



Jan. 29, 1952 J. F. PHILLIPS PUNCH FOR FORMING HOLES IN CANS E m Z0 5 m x 5-5-52 1. f a 1 m 5 J r m r l 1 1 1| A w fii F |i Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES EFATENT OFFICE 2,534,047 PUNCH FOR FORMING nouns IN CANS Joseph F. Phillips, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 22, 1949, Serial No; 89,065

The present invention relates generally to punches. More particularly the invention relates to that type of punch which is designed primarily to form or punch pouring and vent holes in the tops of hermetically sealed liquid containing cans and comprises a frame and in addition an upstanding plunger which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the frame, has a pointed hole-forming lower end and a head at its upper end, and is adapted, when the frame is in proper position with respect to a can to be punched and a blow is imparted to the to slide downwards and form a hole in the top of the can.

One object of the invention is to provide a punch of thi type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed punches for the same pur pose and is characterized by high efiiciency, simplicity of design and construction, and facility of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can puncturing punch of the type under consideration in which the frame is formed of a single rigid strip of metal and consists of a vertically extending lower part which is adapted to be placed against the upper portion of the side 'wall of the can to be opened and held in place by the fingers on one hand of the user of the punch, a horizontally extending first part which is connected to, and extends inwards from, the upper end of the vertically extending lower part, is adapted directly to overlie the top or the can and has an enlarged centrally disposed hole for the pointed lower end of the plunger, a vertically extending first connecting part which is connected to, and extends upwards from, the inner end of the horizontally extending first part, a horizontally extending second part which is connected to, and extends outwards from, the upper end of the vertically extending first part and has in its central portion a hole in which the central portion of the plunger is slidably mounted, a vertically extending second connecting part which is connected to, and extends upwards from,

the outer end of the horizontally extending sec-- nd part, and a horizontally extending third part which is connected to, and extends inwards from,

the upper end of the second connecting part and has in its central portion a hole in which the central portion of the plunger is slidably mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a canpuncturing punch of the type and char acter last mentioned in which the plunger is retracted into its upposition after a puncturing operation by way of a coil variety'compression 2 Claims; (Cl. Fit-16) spring which surrounds the upper end of the plunger and has the upper end thereof in abutment with the under side of the head and its lower end in abutment with the third horizontally extending part of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a punch of the aforementioned character in which the plunger has directly above its pointed lower end a fixed shoulder-forming enlargement which has a twofold purpose in that it serves in connection with a holeforming operation to limit penetration of the pointed lower end of the plunger through the top of thelcan being punched and coacts with the horizontally extending second part. of the frame to limit upward retractile movement of the plunger inresponse to the ac- .tion of the spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a punch of the type and character under consideration in which the lower. end of the vertically extending lower part: of'the frame is bent outwards and upwards to form a hook for supporting the lowermost-finger of the users hand in connection with use of the punch.

A still further objectuof the invention is to provide a can puncturing punch which is generally of new and improved construction and is capable of being manufactured at a low and reasonable cost.v

- Other objects of theinventlon and. the various advantages and characteristics of the present punch will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in: the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined. by claims at the conciusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification. or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several. views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a. punch embodying the invention. in operative relation with a can, the top of whichis to be punctured by the punch;

Figure 2 is a front view of the punch;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken. on the line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the plunger after it has been driven downwards with respect to the frame in order to cause its: pointed lower end to puncture the top wall of the can; and

Figure 4 is aperspecti-ve type view of the frame of the punch.

The punch which" isshown in the drawing constitutes the preferred form or'embodimcn-tof the I 3 invention. It is essentially designed and adapted to punch a pouring hole and a vent hole in the top of a liquid containing can 5 and as its principal components or parts comprises a frame 6, a plunger 1 and a plunger retracting spring 8.

The can 5 is illustrated as beingof standard or conventional design and consists of a cylindrical side wall, a circular top and a circular bottom. The frame 6 of the punch is formed of a single rigid strip of any suitable metal, such, for example, asaluminum or stainless steel, and consists of a vertically extending lower part 9, a horizontally extending first or lower part l0, a vertically extending first connecting part I I, a. horizontally extending second or intermediate part 12, a vertically extending second connecting part l3, and a horizontally extending third or upper part I4. In connection with use of the punch the vertically extending lower part 9 of the frame is placed against the upper portion of the cylindrical side wall of the can and is held in place by the fingers on one hand of the user of the punch. It is straight and fiat except for its lower end which is bent outwards and upwards and forms a hook I 5. and serves to support the fingers which are used to hold the frame in operative relation with the can, the top of which is to be punctured. The horizontally extending first part ID of the frame is connected to, and extends inwards from, the upper end of the vertically extending lower part 9. It is substantially square and has in its central portion a vertically extending large sized circular hole It. The vertically extending first connecting part II of the frame is connected to, and extends upwards from, the inner end of the horizontally extending first part I and serves to connect and maintain in parallel spaced apart relation the.horizontally extending first and second parts I0 and i2. The second part [2 is connected to, and extends outwards from, the upper end of the first connecting part I l and has in its central portion a vertically extending circular hole H. The latter is of less diameter than the hole It and is in concentric relation with the last mentioned hole. The second part [2 of the frame is of the same size and shape as the first part Hi. The second connecting part I3 is connected to, and extends upwards from, the outer end of the horizontally extending second part I2. preferably the same inlength or height as the first connecting part I l and serves to connect and maintain in parallel and spaced relation the second and third parts I2 and 14. The horizontal- 1y extending thirdv part I 4 of the frame is connected to, and extends inwards from, the upper end of the vertically extending second part l3 and is of the same size and shape as the first and second parts it) and. 12. It has in its central portion a vertically. extending circular hole l8 and this is the same in diameter as, and is in coaxial relation with, the hole I! in the central portion of the horizontally extending second part i2. Generally speaking, the upper end of the frame is S-shaped. When the punch is properly applied to the can -5 preparatory to punching the can top the horizontally extending first part of the frame directly overlies the can top, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing.

The plunger 1 is of greater length than the shaped upper portion of the frame 6 of the punch and is formed of any suitable hard metal, such as steel. It is circular in cross section and extends through. and is mounted for vertical sliding movement in, the holes I]; and It in the hori- The latter is of semi-circular cross section a Itis" zontally extending second and third parts l2 and M of the frame. The diameter of the plunger is slightly less than the diameter of the holes l1 and I8 to the end that the plunger is slidable I without appreciable lateral play or displacement.

The upper end of the plunger is provided with a head I!) whereby it may be driven downwards with respect to the frame. The head is circular and preferably has a convexly curved upper surface and a flat lower surface. If desired, the head may be formed of molded plastic material. The upper end of the plunger is suitably secured within a socket in the central portion of the head. In connection with use of the punch the user, after proper application of the frame to the can. strikes downward on the top surface of the head. This results in downward sliding movement of the plunger. The lower end of the Plunger is provided .with a conical point 20 which when the plunger is driven downwards pierces the top of the can and forms a hole therein. The plunger embodies a circular shoulder forming enlargement 2! a small distance above the conical point 20. This enlargement limits penetration of the point through the top of the can when the plunger is driven downwards for hole forming purposes and in addition coacts with the horizontally extending second part l2 of the frame to limit upward sliding movement of the plunger with respect to the frame. The diameter of the enlargement 2| is slightlyless than the diameter of the vertically extending large sized circular hole It in the horizontally extending first part it of the frame. The enlargement may be formed integrally with the plunger or it may be formed separately and shrunk into place. In connection with a hole forming operation the lower end of the plunger moves downwards through the top of the can until the bottom surfaceof the enlargement 2! is brought into engagement or abutment with the top surface of the top of the can. At such time downward movement of the plunger is raised.

The spring 8 serves to retract the plunger after it has been driven downwards. It is essentially a coil variety compression spring and surrounds the upper end of the plunger. The upper end of the spring abuts against the lower surface of the head l9 and the lower end of the spring abuts against the top surface of the horizontally extending third part M of the frame. When the plunger is driven downwards by striking the head I9 the spring 8 is compressed, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. As soon as the plunger is released after having been driven downwards with respect to the frame the spring slides the plunger upwards until it is raised as the result of the enlargement 2| being brought into engagement with the lower surface of the horizontally extending second part l2 of the frame.

When it is desired to puncture or form a pouring hole in the top of the can 5 the punch is p0- sitioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is contemplated that the user of the punch will hold the punch in place by placing the fingers on one hand against the vertically extending lower part 9 and grasping the upper portion of the can with the one hand. This results in downward sliding movement of the plunger and thereby causes the point 20 to puncture the top of the can. As heretofore indicated, the spring 8 serves upwardly to retract the plunger after a can top puncturing operation. If it ls'desired to punch or form a vent hole in the top of the can the punch and i can are rotated or turned relatively to one another throughout an arc of 180, thereafter the user imparts a blow to the head on the upper end of the plunger.

The herein described punch is essentially simple in design and hence may be produced or fabri cated at a low cost. It effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and may be operated with facility. The hook it at the lower end of the vertically extending lower part 9 of the frame may be used to hang the punch on a horizontal rod when the punch is not in use.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and i scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a punch designed for use in puncturing the top of a can and comprising a vertically elongated one-piece frame embodying a vertical lower part adapted to be held against the upper portion of the side wall of the can, and an S-shaped upper portion adapted to overlie the top of the can, consisting of vertically spaced horizontal lower, intermediate and upper parts, a first vertical connecting part between the inner ends of the horizontal lower and intermediate parts and a second vertical connecting part between the outer ends of the intermediate and upper parts having the outer end of its horizontal lower part connected to the upper end of the vertical can engaging portion and having a large sized hole in said horizontal lower part and aligned smaller sized holes in the intermediate and upper horizontal parts, an upstanding plunger of greater length than the upper portion of the frame, extending through and mounted for vertical sliding movement in the smaller size holes in said intermediate and upper parts, having the lower end thereof pointed and its upper end provided with a head, adapted when the head is struck with a downward blow to slide downwards relatively to the frame and have its pointed lower end pass through the hole in said horizontal lower part and puncture the top of the can, and provided a slight distance above its pointed lower end with an enlargement that is smaller than the hole in the horizontal lower part but larger than the hole in the intermediate part, serves in connection with puncturing of the can top to limit penetration of the pointed lower end of the plunger through the top of the can, and coacts with said intermediate part to limit upward sliding movement of the plunger relatively to the frame, and a coil compression spring extending around the upper end of the plunger and between the head and the upper part of the S-shaped upper portion and operative to slide the plunger upwards after a puncturing operation.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a punch designed for use in puncturing the top of a can and comprising a vertically elongated frame formed of a single strip of metal and embodying a vertical lower part adapted to be held by the fingers against the upper portion of th side wall of the can and provided at its lower end with an outwardly and upwardly extending finger supporting hook, and an d-shaped upper portion adapted to overlie the top of the can, consisting of vertically spaced horizontal lower, intermediate and upper parts, a first vertical connecting part between the inner ends of the horizontal lower and intermediate parts and a second ver tical connecting part between the outer ends of the intermediate and upper parts, having the outer end of its horizontal lower part connected to the upper end of the vertical finger receiving part, and having a large sized hole in said horizontal lower part and aligned smaller sized holes in the intermediate and upper parts, an upstanding plunger of greater length than the upper portion of the frame, extending through and mounted for vertical sliding movement in the small sized holes in said intermediate and upper parts, having the lower end thereof pointed and its upper end provided with a head, adapted when the head is struck with a downward blow to slide downwards relatively to the frame and have its pointed end pass through the hole in said lower horizontal lower part and puncture the top of the can, and provided a slight distance above its pointed lower end with an enlargement that is smaller than the hole in the horizontal lower part but larger than the hole in the horizontal intermediate part, serves in connection with puncturing of the can top to limit penetration of the pointed lower end of the plunger through the top of the can, and coacts with said intermediate part to limit upward sliding movement of the plunger relatively to the frame, and a coil compression spring extending around the upper end of the plunger and between the head and the upper part of the S-shaped upper por tion and operative to slide the plunger upwards after a puncturing operation.

JOSEPH F. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,295,353 Mullane Feb. 25, 1919 1,788,981 Carpenter Jan. 13, 1931 1,919,711 Cutler July 25, 1933 

